EXCITEMENT AT DAY'S BAY.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 51, 29 August 1904, Page 6

EXCITEMENT AT DAY'S BAY.

A FEMININE DISTUHBING ELEMENT. A HOCKEY TROUBLE. An extraordinary occurrence took place at Day's Bay on Saturday afternoon, resultant upon a certain friction botweon the Hockey Aasocintion and the Ferry Company, which dovcloped into a war botwocn the lady-hockoyists and the Association. Saturday was the day fixed for tho oponing of tho ladies' tournament (which is to oxtend until this dny week), and the 1.15 steamer to the Bay brought over a largo contingent of lady playora And their friends. Tho first match, Petone v. Blonhoim, was at onco begun, and was successfully negotiated, concluding just aftor the arrival of tho 2.30 boat. Tho crowd then oxpectod that the second ladies' match,- Nelson v. Aorangi, would take place, but after a few minutes' dolay, two toams of uninteresting males, representing tho United and Vivian Clubs, inarched on to tho ground, and bogan playing to tho accompaniment of some mild hooting. ]n the meantime, the girls, rather at a loss what to do, did nothing, but eventually began a scratch gamo on tho ground in front of tho pavilion, which was most unsuitable both for players and spectators. By this time tho crowd was becoming annoyed, and was oxprossing its opinion of the men players for ousting tho ladies. It was left for Mr. F. Pirani, of Petone, to giro expression, to the toolings of tho spectators. Opening tho proceedings with a hostilo address to tho men, ho resorted to action, and at a favourable opportunity sewed the ball. Ho thon sprinted towards tho pavilion, pursued by several players, and hurled tho sphero into illimitable space. Tho crowd split into two soctions ; ono, the largost, backing up the Petone champion, and it appeared that a free fight would ensue. Tho playors, howovor, socurcd another ball, and continued their game, with ono eyo on play and ono on Mr. Pirani, who hovered round tho lino looking for an opportunity to break up tho game again. His chanco came when tho ball w-as hit towards him. With a sudden spring ho Bocured it, and broke for tho horizon. Near the pavilion lie whs overtaken by the enemy, and a froo fight onsucd, in tho course of which tho ball was lost. When tho mob sorted itself out, Mr Pirani's faco wns damaged, but he was full ot fight. Tho peaces was made, howovui, and tho men resumed thoir game. By this time tho solfappointed champion of tho ladies was just feeling limber and fresh, and succeeded in gotting away with the ball once more. Tucking it undor his arm ho dashed away towards tho sea, with b largo quantity of hockey playors on his heels. He mado a good race, but was outflanked and blocked, and shied tho ball into tho airy void. Tho clamours of tho crowd broko out afresh. It swarmed on tho ground, and wrangled and jostled and struggled in a widespread fashion, while jifio players callod for tho blood of tho disturber of tho poace. It was found impossible to continue tho gamo, and after sovoral brawny peacemakers had averted bloodshed, tho disgusted mole players va^atod their strongBold, amid tho choors of tho multitude. Tho ladies then took tho field to tho accompaniment of a triumphant blare from the band. This morning, Mr. Pearson, of tho Hockey Association, discussed the matter •with a Post reporter. Tho association, fie considers, has been badly treated in tho matter. It bad been arranged, he mid, that the ladies' tournament was nob to begin on Saturday. There baa for some time been trouble between the Ferry Company and the association, and, owing to a disagreement over the gate fd;r the Interisland match, tho association decided to play the maUsh at the Athletic Park. In the meantime correspondence was proceeding between tho association and the management of the ladies' tournament. Tho association insisted that tho ladies should not play on Snturday afternoon, but tho negotiations ended in a definito statement from the ladies that they were • going to play in the afternoon. The association, so Mr. Pearson said, took legal advice and fcae assured that its position was a sound one. Ac--oordtngly, no tho ladies showed a disposition to defy the association, that body rescinded its previous decision and notification that there would be no nssocia"tion matches at Day's Bay, and arranged fotsr matches. Asked why tho association changed, ite policy, Mr. Pearson replied that tho teams wore oent to hold tho grounds, and thus savo the ladies from incurring a liability for '.trespass. Tho association cousidcre that its request that tho ladies should not play was a reasonable one, aa it would detract from tho «ucceas of the Interisland match, Tho other side of tho question was put forward by Mr. H. Rawsori, manager of the Iforry Company. Tho agreement of lease between tho aesociation and tho Ferry Company states that tho ladies may ha-vo tho oso of the ground on any day 6n which ifc is not required by tho association. The company's legal advisers contend that the association can refuse permission to tho ladies only on two grounds : — (1) That tho association intends to use the ground, and (2) that tho grounds arc not fit to play on. According to Mr. Rawson, Mr. Pearson, for tho asoociation, refused to let the ladies play on tho arrival of tho 1.15 boat, becnuse they would, damage the ground. This ha« resulted in a loss of steamer faros to the company, which urges that tho association is., refusing permission arbitrarily, which is forbidden by tho lease. "The association told the Jadles to put on a good game on 3rd September, and it would tuke half tho gate," said Mr. Rawson. " That doesn't eeoro very gonerous, does it?" Finally, whan the ladies insisted on their right to play on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Pearson wrote cancelling the arrangements, and stating that the ladies would have to play on arrival of the 10 a.m. boat. Tbo ladies' management then issued ita ultimatum. Tho girls were stiM determined to play if they could legally do so, and they were convinced that tho men would not play.

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